Stepping onto the pitch for your first match at a place like Suncorp Stadium is enough to get the adrenaline pumping through the veins for any young footballer.
Stepping onto the pitch for your first match at a place like Suncorp Stadium is enough to get the adrenaline pumping through the veins for any young footballer.
But to Brisbane Roar Youth defender Corey Brown, Saturday-s National Youth League fixture against Central Coast Mariners – the first in a double header with the Hyundai A-League team – means just that little bit more.
Brown was barely three-years-old as he sat in the then-named Lang Park as one of the 40, 446 spectators in the 1997 National Soccer League grand final, watching intently as his dad, Rod, played the full 90 minutes for Brisbane Strikers against old foes Sydney United.
Brown senior scored the second goal in the 2-0 triumph and the day sits in young Brown-s mind as his fondest, and earliest, football memory.
“I still remember watching my dad score and go on to win that grand final,” he said.
“To play where he played is quite special and this time he-ll be there watching me.
“I-ve never played there before, I-m excited and to play in a stadium like that is going to be really different.”
Since joining the Roar ranks in the off-season and signing as one of the club-s full-time youth players, Brown has excelled in his role as left-back and has been one of the most consistent performers in Head Coach John Sime-s squad.
Last weekend, the Roar Youth endured a tough day at the office, throwing away a 2-0 lead to lose 5-2 at the hands of NYL league leaders Melbourne Heart.
Brown said the significance of Saturday-s match would not be lost on him or any of his teammates as they looked to return to winning ways against the Mariners.
“We definitely need to bounce back from last week,” the 17-year-old said.
“We had a really good first half last week and crumbled in the second half.
“Now we need to prove to everyone that we-re a good team and we-re better than last week-s result.
“We all know our second half performance wasn-t up to standard so it-ll be business as usual for the rest of the week, we-re really working towards getting a win this weekend.”
Brisbane Roar Youth take on Central Coast Mariners Youth on Saturday, 17 December at Suncorp Stadium, kicking off at 4pm. The Hyundai A-League fixture between the same sides will kick off at 6.45pm. Tickets available at the gate or at Ticketek.
